New Menu, Management For Cranford Mexican Restaurant

CRANFORD, NJ - Under new ownership with familiar faces, Cranford’s Agave Mexican restaurant is now serving up Mexican fare with a twist.

Opened mid-pandemic by Jose Villanueva, Agave has touted a traditional Mexican menu from quesadillas, enchiladas, tacos, burritos and fajitas since January 2021. However, since January, Jose’s brother Christian has since stepped up to the plate to manage the North Union Avenue eatery, Downtown Cranford wrote in a statement.

Christian, a Mexico City native, reportedly learned both culinary and hospitality skills from his mother, who has owned a Colombian restaurant in Elizabeth for a decade.

“The time I’ve spent at my mom’s restaurant taught me the importance of customer service and attention to detail,” Christian said, per Downtown Cranford. “I’m really working on creating a great overall experience for customers.”

Inspired by both his mother’s entrepreneurship and the meals he grew up eating, Christian has since added Colombian dishes to Agave’s menu including empanadas, bandeja paisa (a traditional Colombian dish that often contains rice and beans, egg, avocado, sausage, and pork belly) and calentado (traditional Colombian breakfast).

An updated menu can be viewed here.

Agave is open Mondays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Fridays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Orders can be placed by calling (908) 989-3381.